Two of my most favorite people to cook for are my stepkids, Maxwell and Sophia. They are eleven, twins, have very particular palates, and generally offer up good, honest critiques. Although they are twins, their tastbuds differ quite a bit. For example: Sophia loves peanut butter but Max hates it. Max is into cinnamon-flavored things but Sophie's not totally on board. Sophia likes garbanzo beans, while Max detests beans of any sort. Max drinks apple juice and Sophia prefers orange juice. Sophia loves broccoli but won't go near cauliflower, and Max is completely the opposite. Up until now, I usually would give broccoli to Sophia with her dinner, and cauliflower to Max, but Cadry's Kitchen changed all that.
A little over a week ago, Cadry posted the most delicious-looking recipe: Cauliflower Queso. The pictures she posted made my heart sing, and one picture in particular, a quesadilla filled with this delectable queso, made me crave quesadillas like no one's business (except now it's your business). What really got my gears going, though, was the idea that I might be able to get Sophia to finally eat cauliflower (that sounds so devious, but I really mean it in the most sincere way a person possibly can when referring to tricking someone into eating something they don't like).
This last Saturday, it was on! I whipped up the queso very easily (leaving out the jalapenos, because I knew the twins would veto that after one bite), ate several heaping spoonfuls tasted it, and set it aside to make quesadillas with later. A couple of hours later, with Family Movie Night upon us, I got to work on the quesadillas. I realized I had no salsa for Chris and I to have on ours, so I whipped up my Nectarine Bell Pepper salsa. I usually use cilantro (as indicated in the recipe) but didn't have any on hand so this batch went without it. I also didn't have any chile peppers of any sort (I was not prepared to make salsa at all), so I used a bit of Sriracha sauce and I think I liked the taste of it even more than previous batches.
The quesadillas were received extremely well, by all parties involved. Chris and I wished we hadn't run out of tortillas so we could have made seconds. The queso is so rich and velvety and made every bite of the quesadilla burst with flavor in my mouth. The twins, Sophia especially, ate it up quickly. The only question was from Sophia, who asked if the cheese was made with beans. I told her "Yes it was- I'm so impressed that you picked that up!" And it was left at that. The next day, I told her there was cauliflower in it, and her response was "Oh. Well, it was good." So here it is- the recipe that got Sophia to injest cauliflower and actually like it:
CADRY'S CAULIFLOWER QUESO QUESADILLAS
makes 4 quesadillas
Ingredients:
- 1 recipe of Cauliflower Queso from Cadry’s Kitchen
- ½ cup grated vegan cheese, such as Daiya (optional)
- 4 tortillas
- olive oil spray
Instructions:
- Spread about 3-4 T cauliflower queso on a tortilla. If using, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of grated vegan cheese on top of the queso. Fold the tortilla in half and repeat with remaining tortillas. You will have some queso left over.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat. Lightly spray both sides of each quesadilla with olive oil spray before placing onto the heated pan. Depending on the size of your pan, you can do about 2-4 quesadillas at a time. I used a large, double burner griddle pan, so I was able to do all at once.
- Cook the quesadillas for about 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve warm, topped with Nectarine Bell Pepper Salsa (or salsa of choice). Enjoy!
NECTARINE BELL PEPPER SALSA
Ingredients:
- 15-20 cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 nectarine, sliced and chopped
- ½ red bell pepper, chopped
- ¼ onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- ½-1 tsp Sriracha sauce
Instructions:
- Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl. You can easily sub the Sriracha sauce for fresh peppers, finely chopped. Chill for an hour prior to serving. Enjoy!
Thank you so much to Cadry's Kitchen for providing me with the answer to the cauliflower/broccoli war in our house. Now I just need to make a broccoli based cheese...
All Photos taken by Chris Miller
© Kristy Turner and Keepin' It Kind, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material (content and images) without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kristy Turner and Keepin' It Kind with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Aardvark
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this article and the rest of the
site is really good.
keepinitkind
Thank you!
Kristen
Looks so good! I'm going to have to try this one.
keepinitkind
Ooooh! I hope you do! Thanks, Kristin!
Cara
The creativity is getting a bit ridiculous on you and Cadry's side! Cauliflower queso??? A nectarine salsa??? Really girls?! And it's all in quesadilla form which is one of my ultimate foods to survive off of. I cannot wait to try this! xo
Cadry
Please! This from Miss Pot Pie Cupcakes (AKA Miss Fruit-based nachos)! The kettle called and wanted me to give you a message... xoxo
keepinitkind
Hahahaha! She is also known to some as Miss Snickers Donuts. 😉
Somer
Isn't she ridiculously adorable? Her food creations put my kitchen skillz to absolute shame. That being said, cauliflower cheez looks radical ladies, when I quit my current cashew cheez obsession I shall have to give it a go!
And thanks Kristy to introducing me to Cadry's blog. I totally subscribed yesterday!
keepinitkind
I'm going to let you in on something: last night, we did a reprise of the cauliflower quest quesadillas, but also added Annie's Cashew Cheez! Best of both worlds, collided into one perfect meal!
You're going to love Cadry- she comes up with the greatest creations and has a terrific sense of humor. 🙂
Somer
Ohhhh, brilliant Kristy! K. I've been trying to live off the veggies I get in the co-op basket, but I'm defo going to have to pick up some white cruciferousness!
keepinitkind
I can't wait for you to try this too! I also can't wait for our next date- this week, perhaps... 🙂
Somer
Jealous!
Cadry
Beautiful pics! How would Chris feel about coming to the Midwest to take pictures of my food everyday? We may not have oceans and palm trees here, but for about half of the year the weather is quite lovely. (I'll tell him about the other half while he's unpacking.)
Okay, now that my sales pitch is out of the way, thank you so much for making and blogging about the cauliflower quesadillas! I'm thrilled that the you and the twins enjoyed them. Plus, it's good to know that it was a success at cruciferous camouflage! I will definitely be making the nectarine salsa next time to go with it. You can't beat the combo of sweet and salty!
keepinitkind
Thank you so much for introducing me to cauliflower queso! I'm sure it will be a staple in our house now. As for the nectarine bell pepper salsa- it was wa pretty awesome combo- how often in your life will you enjoy nectarine, cauliflower, and white beans in one bite?
I asked Chris about the midwest deal, and he said he wanted to know if unlimited cauliflower queso was part of the agreement. 🙂
Richa@HobbyandMore
i am inviting you all to seattle.. we have oceans and beaches.. just not as warm 😉
i am all over that quesadilla platter and that nectarine salsa. i need some of this food for a week at least so i dont have to cook!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Richa! I'm glad you like it Cadry's recipe makes a lot, so you and your husband will have several meals covered. 🙂
I would love to go to Seattle (I have not been as an adult). I need to go on a tour of molten chocolate cakes (starting with yours)!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
nectarine salsa?? umm yes please!! these look so good- I've been making some non-cheeze quesadillas lately with mashed avocado, nooch and salsa, but I love the sound of this version! So in tune with my cravings right now!
keepinitkind
Aren't quesadillas the perfect go-to? Everyone in my family loves 'em and they're so simple to make.
I made your avocado "crack" by the way- pretty phenomenal! I think I ate my weight in baby carrots covered in that stuff. Thank you for that!
Hannah
Cauliflower queso is brilliant! I'm especially excited by the idea because I happen to have exactly half a head of cauliflower standing by in the fridge. Trying this tomorrow- Thanks for spreading the word!
keepinitkind
Good luck with it- I can't imagine a greater fate for the remainder of your head of cauliflower! 🙂
Caitlin
wow, i can't wait to make the cauliflower queso! and i know dayv would love these quesadillas, so i am totally making these for him 😉
keepinitkind
I hope you and Dayv like them!
CJ at Food Stories
Let me know when you figure out the broccoli cheese 🙂
keepinitkind
Will do! 😉
Michelle
we are obsessed with this cheese.... I mean really so good.... this time tho I made your nectarine salsa YUM as always
keepinitkind
Isn't Cadry's cheese awesome! Huge hit in our house! Glad you liked the nectarine salsa too! 🙂